My overflow pond (catfish only) had a blocked drain for the last couple of weeks. We thought enough water was leaking through the blockage that the pond would soon be low enough to access the drain and easily unclog the blockage. However with rain every week or so that was not happening.

So with heavy rains in the forecast and the main drain completely submerged and not even view able...we rented a large sump-pump on Friday and drained the pond down to where we could t least see the drain pipe again. To our surprise we found an empty large heavy plastic planter that must have blown into the pond, made it's way to the drain and went into the drain as a perfect fit..almost like it was made to be a plug for the pond drain.

We stuck a crow bar in and bent the planter a bit to let more water run around the blockage. Finally yesterday morning 2 hours before more rain hit we were able to run a cable thru some of the bent planter...tie a rope to the cable and pull the long rope on an ATV and the planter popped out.

Lesson learned....never leave anything near the shore that can blow or be washed into your pond and clog the drain! I hope I didn't lose too many albino cats once the water started flowing again.

A planter exactly like this one clogged pond drain pipe:


Closeup of planter wedged in drain pipe after crowbar crushing:


After pulling planter out of drain pipe with ATV


Let the water flow after planter removed!

Looking to start pricing piping for pond. What size and brand is the pipe pictured?

CrazyJu....that is a 24 inch drain pipe.

Not sure of the brand, the local pond builder got it from a local supply house a couple of years ago.

I have one of these on the way for it. Mine is powder-coat black.
AgriDrain Bar Guard

I'll post pics when we get it installed soon.

Zep, you beat me to it. I've seen too many of the overflow pipes plugged with junk like yours was plugged, and it's flat out too dangerous to try and unplug them when the water is high.

It looks to me like corrugated pipes like that one would plug more easily than smooth wall pipes....but maybe the corrugated pipe is way less expensive. Driving a t-post right in front of it would prevent a large piece of debris like that pot from going in.

That type of plastic pipe is available in 2 flavors. One single wall, the other double wall; where the inner wall is smooth.

Mine has the smooth inner wall.

Ok, my bad. Didn't know about the two types...only type I have seen is single wall corrugated used for drainage.

Scott this planter was a perfect fit in the drain pipe, eventually it got wedged in like a cork in wine bottle.

Glad that you could get it out without risking life and limb!! Especially before the rain that you guys will be getting.

hooded inlet with trash guard
The good news is that I haven't had any extreme water events to the point that this design is tested at 100% volume. After all these years, it still looks like it did when I constructed it. The only diff is a little washout around the concrete footers, but they are still in the same position and height.

pretty cool Brettski

Got the small pond 24 inch drain guard installed this weekend.

Hopefully no more "pond constipation" & less loss of fish.

Before:


Drain Guard:


Drain Guard:


Drain Guard Installed:


Drain Guard Installed:


Agri-Drain Bar Guards

That Drain guard looks nice. Now you can leave all the junk you want laying around!! lol, Dan

I know right Dan...lol

It sure beats the old number 3 rebar laced up and tack welded. !! Dan

Got the big pond 36 inch drain bar-guard in today.

Looks good, Mark! It's highly unlikely you'll be getting it plugged now!

Zep, with the recent rains, how did it work?

Thanks Rex...hopefully it will do what it's supposed to do.

Scott...the small pond bar-guard made it thru last week's rain with flying colors. The big pond bar-guard was just installed this afternoon and should be put to the test late tonight and tomorrow as more rain is predicted.

Good. IIRC Al said he was getting 1" per hour for a few hours in a row on Friday I believe.

Congrats Mark. I do like those rat guards.